The most expensive cities to live in this year (is yours on the list?)
The eye-watering prices of the world's most sought-after destinations
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LIFESTYLE Cost of living
Have you ever dreamed of packing a bag and starting over in the hustle and bustle of New York City? Or spending your golden years in the Hawaiian paradise of Honolulu? Sadly, these romantic daydreams are even further from reality than they once were (unless you happen to have won the lottery). The rental markets in these coveted cities have skyrocketed in recent years, contributing to cost-of-living crises breaking out across the globe. In 2024, it truly is a landlord's world.
To calculate just how expensive it is to rent in each city, Numbeo has come up with the Cost of Rent Index. According to their website, "This index estimates the prices of renting apartments in a city compared to New York City. If the Rent Index is 80, it suggests that the average rental prices in that city are approximately 20% lower than those in New York City." For reference, the Point2 real estate agency estimates that an average NYC apartment goes for US$4,392 per month.
In this gallery, you'll find the 30 cities that score highest on the Rent Index. Click through for a tour of the most eye-wateringly expensive rental markets in the world and find out what they have to offer!
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